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Bass Coast Biolinks

Bass Coast Shire Council is working on a Biodiversity Biolinks Plan to protect and connect the remaining native vegetation in the Shire.

By Portal Admin - 6th November 2017 - Back to News

The connecting 'Biolinks' are currently open for community comment at http://basscoastbiolinks.crowdspot.com.au.

A total of 186 proposed Biolinks were identified during three community workshops held earlier this year and they aim to prevent further land management problems, such as erosion, land slips and loss of habitat for local animals.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explained that it is important to protect the fourteen percent of native vegetation we have left in Bass Coast, and to connect these isolated pockets together to encourage the movement of wildlife.

"These Biolinks will also allow for genetic diversity in wild populations and help ensure long term viability of species," Cr Rothfield said.

"The protection of our environment is also pivitol to maintaining our tourism economy.

Many tourists visit Bass Coast for our unique and diverse flaura and fauna, and the protection of these natural attractions is crucial in maintaining this charm."

Community workshops were held to help develop the Biolinks Plan to this stage, and as the last step in the consultation the community are encouraged to provide feeback via an online map which shows proposed Biolinks. These proposed links cover both public and private land. The comments left on the online map will help inform future

Biolinks across Bass Coast and feed into the Biodiversity Biolinks Plan.

The Biolinks Plan will also help landowners and landmanagers by attracting investment from State and Federal Government for revegetation works. It will also make it easier for planners to identify areas that are suitable for protection and enhancement when referring to the Bass Coast Planning Scheme. Private land participation is on a voluntary basis and there is no obligation to compel property owners to plant native vegetation in the proposed Biolinks.

In addition to community consultation the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Bass Coast Landcare Network have all contributed to the Biolinks discussion.

You can provide feedback by visiting basscoastbiolinks.crowdspot.com.au where you’ll be able to like a spot or link on the map, leave comments on the proposed Biolinks, and add additional Biolinks to the map. Comments and feedback will be welcome until 30 November and a final report will go before Council in April 2018.

For further information contact Coordinator Catchment and Climate Change, Diana Whittington at diana.whittington@basscoast.vic.gov.au , or on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.



Biolink in the Bass Hills on Karl Russo’s property were 25,000 plants were planted this year in partnership with Bass Coast Landcare Network

For more information contact:

Nina Barry-Macaulay

communications officer

t (03) 5671 2163 | f (03) 5671 2222 | m 0400 698 089

e nina.barry-macaulay@basscoast.vic.gov.au

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com